Senior Karter Bowen of Frenship Memorial is the Area 1 first vice president. He served as a Texas delegate at the convention and sat on a committee. Bowen also won at the state level for swine production placement proficiency, then placed in the top four nationally.
Ryan Pieniazek, lead ag science teacher at Frenship High School, traveled to Indianapolis to help the students. He came home with an award of his own, the Honorary American Degree, the highest honorary degree given. "In the end, I think any ag teacher would say it's never about the ag teacher, it's always about the students," he said.
Amanda Spacek helped Bowen get to that point. She says she teaches students to be leaders and prepares them for the workforce, beyond agriculture. Students also do a service activity at the convention and service work back home in Lubbock, where Spacek said they learn "the value of giving back to our community."
The three-star rating is the highest a chapter can earn, and it is the first time a first-year chapter in Texas has received it. Less than 10% of FFA chapters nationwide get a rating at all.